CNN has an interesting article on the rise of fake cops pulling people over, and what to do if you think you are being pulled over by a fake cop. They go through all the normal advice - keep driving slowly with your blinkers on until you get to a populated area, call 911, keep your doors locked and windows opened just enough to slip your license through - but the way they describe such encounters is off in la la land. Sure, most policemen, most police departments, and most judges will be sympathetic to a citizen’s concern about being pulled over by a fake cop, but you better be prepared for encountering one who is not quite so sympathetic.

Let’s think for a second what your behavior looks like to an actual officer: you do something that gives him reason to pull over, so he pulls behind you and flashes his lights. Instead of pulling over and being cooperative, as you are supposed to, you instead continue driving. At best, he might understand your intention and just be annoyed that you are causing him extra work. Think you can normally sweet talk your way out of a ticket? Not if you just drove 5 miles at 10mph with that cop behind you. At worst, he thinks you are actively fleeing a police officer. Now you are evading a police officer, a very serious offense and one that is a very steep hill to climb up out of.

But that sounds so far fetched! you say? Perhaps, but law enforcement is trained more and more these days to simply cite for what they can and let the legal system deal with the aftermath. All I’m saying is, at least be aware of what the aftermath of your actions could be, details CNN has conveniently left out.